Rotary steam engine

ABSTRACT

A rotary steam engine having a turbine adapted to be propelled by steam jets in either direction of rotation. A sleeve valve surrounding the turbine is rotated to align directional jets with the steam manifold so as to apply the steam jet to opposite surfaces of the turbine blades. The jets are elongate transversely of the blades and are sloped to provide a relatively continuous action. In a modified form of the invention, a pair of turbine blades are positioned on the same shaft with the valves interconnected for simultaneous operation.

United States Patent [191 Grainger [451 Jan. 14, 1975 ROTARY STEAM ENGINE [76] lnventorz' Lewis M. D. Grainger, Rt. 1, Glen Allen, Va. 23060 [22] Filed: Oct. 1, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 402,079

[52] US. Cl. 415/152 R, 415/159 [51] Int. Cl. F0ld 1/30, FOld 17/12 [58] Field of Search ..415/152,153,154,159, 415/158 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 762,454 6/1904 Sturgeon 415/166 813,806 2/1906 Lentz 415/152 1,141,016 5/1915 Silvestri 415/159 3,046,585 7/1962 Ledingham et al. 415/153 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 67 0/1875 Great Britain 415/154 0/1909 Great Britain 415/152 12/1906 Switzerland 415/152 Primary Examiner-Henry F. Raduazo Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Blair & Brown [5 7] ABSTRACT A rotary steam engine having a turbine adapted to be propelled by steam jets in either direction of rotation. A sleeve valve surrounding the turbine is rotated to align directional jets with the steam manifold so as to apply the steam jet to opposite surfaces of the turbine blades. The jets are elongate transversely of the blades and are sloped to provide a relatively continuous action.

In a modified form of the invention, a pair of turbine blades are positioned on the same shaft with the valves interconnected for simultaneous operation.

2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEU JAN 1 M975 SHEET 10F 4 PAIEMED 3.860.357

SHEEF 20F 4 PATENTED JAN I 4|975 SHEET t 0F 4 1 ROTARY STEAM ENGINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a reversible rotary steam engine of the turbine type.

2. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a rotary steam engine of the reversible type in which a turbine is formed with blades having driving surfaces on opposite sides thereof for impelling the turbine in opposed directions. A valve having the steam jets therein is rotated to align the directional jets with the opposed sides of the turbine blades. Steam escapes continuously from the turbine blades through a continuous exhaust port along one side thereof.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a reversible steam turbine engine utilizing the same turbine for reverse and forward motion.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following specification when considered in light of the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a transverse sectional view of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken along the line 3--3 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 55 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a modified form of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several Figures, the reference numeral 10 indicates generally a rotary steam turbine engine constructed in accordance with the invention.

The steam turbine engine 10 includes a housing 11 of generally cylindrical form and having a steam manifold chamber 12 formed therein. Conduit nipples 13 extend outwardly from the housing and communicate with the manifold chamber 12 to supply steam thereto from a source of steam under pressure.

A ring 14 is mounted in the housing 11 internally of the manifold 12 and has a generally cylindrical form. The ring 14 functions to direct steam from the manifold 12 inwardly through a plurality of elongate trasversely sloping conduits 15. Intermediate each adjacent pair of the conduits 15 is an oppositely sloping conduit 16 for purposes to be described. A sleeve valve 17 is mounted for rotation within the ring 14 and is generally cylindrical in form. The sleeve valve 17 has a plurality of jets 18 arranged to align with the conduits 16 and a plurality of jets 19 which are arranged to align with the conduits 15. The sleeve valve 17 is mounted on a disc member 20 having a tubular portion 21 on its inner end for supporting the housing 11. A ball bearing 22 is mounted in the tubular portion and supports a shaft 23 which extends therethrough. A grease seal 24 protects the bearing 22. A yoke 25 is secured to the tubular portion 21 by a clamping bolt 26 and a key K. A control linkage 27 extends from the yoke 25 to a suitable control handle. The yoke 25 has an upstanding finger 28 which engages oppositely disposed stops 29, 30 to control the position of the valve 17 with respect to the conduits l5, l6.

The shaft 23 is splined at 31 and has a turbine rotor 32 mounted thereon. The turbine rotor 32 has a plurality of blades 33 formed thereon with each of the blades 33 having opposed concave working faces 34, 35 which are adapted to be impinged by steam passing through the jets l8 and 19 respectively.

A generally circular side plate 36 is secured to the housing 11 by a plurality of bolts 37. The side plate 36 has an exhaust manifold 38 formed therein for directing the exhaust steam to a plurality of exhaust ports 39. The side plate 36 is supported on a ball bearing 40 protected by a grease retainer 41.

The housing 11 is provided with a base 42 for connection into conventional motor mounts of a motor vehicle.

A starter gear 43 is provided on the shaft 23 to permit the turbine 32 to be initially rotated when starting. A decoupler or transmission 44 is secured to each end of the shaft 23 for connecting the shaft 23 to the load to be turned. A pulley 45 is mounted on the shaft 23 for driving any desired accessory to be used with the engine 10.

In the use and operation of the invention, steam under high pressure is fed to the nipples 13 and thence into the manifold 12 where it feeds through the ring 14 and then through the jets 18 or the jets 19 of the sleeve valve 17 so as to impinge on the surfaces 34 or the surfaces 35 of the turbine blades 33 to drive the turbine 32 in either direction of rotation. Exhaust steam from the turbine blades 33 passes outwardly through the exhaust manifold 38 and exhaust ports 39.

The disc member 20 of the sleeve valve 17 has an annular seal 46 engaging the side of the turbine 32 and the side plate 36 has an annular seal 47 engaging the opposite side of the turbine 32 to prevent the exhaust steam from reaching the bearings 22, 40 supporting the shaft 23.

In FIG. 6 a modified form of the engine is indicated generally at 60. The engine 60 includes a housing 61 having a pair of opposed end plates 62, 63 secured to the housing 61 by a plurality of elongate bolts 64 extending therethrough. The end plates 62, 63 having steam manifolds 65 formed therein and surrounding a ring 66 having steam directing conduits 67 formed therein. A sleeve valve 68 is mounted on a disc 69 carried by a tubular hub 70. The tubular hubs 70 are mounted on ball bearings 71 protected by grease retainers 72. A yoke 73 is secured to the tubular hubs 70 for turning the valves 68 in the same manner that the valve 17 was turned in the preferred form of the invention. An exhaust manifold 74 is formed centrally of the housing 61 and is connected by ports 75 to rotors 76 which are identical in every respect with the rotors 32 of the preferred form of the invention. The rotor 76 is sealed with annular seals 77 and is mounted on a splined portion 78 of the shaft 79. A steam supply pipe 80 is connected to each of the steam manifolds 65 through fittings 81. Pulleys 82 mounted on the shaft 79 provide connections for any accessories with which it is desired to use the engine. An exhaust steam pipe 83 extends from the manifold 74 to conduct the exhaust steam away from the engine 60.

The use and operation of the engine 60 is identical to that of the engine 10, with the exception that dual rotors 76 each provide power for the shaft 79.

The dual rotors 76 are circumferentially offset on the shaft 79 so that the power impulses are offset and the drive of shaft 79 is substantially continuous and relatively smooth. The offset arrangement also provides for ease of starting the engine.

The present invention provides a clean engine with substantial anti-pollution advantages inherent in its rotary design.

Having thus described the preferred embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that numerous structural modifications and adaptations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a rotary steam turbine engine, a housing having a steam manifold chamber formed therein, nipples communicating with said manifold chamber to supply steam thereto from a source of steam underpressure, a ring mounted in said housing internally of the manifold chamber, said ring functioning to direct steam from the manifold inwardly through a plurality of transversely sloping first conduits, oppositely sloping second conduits intermediate each pair of first conduits, a sleeve 'valve mounted for rotation within the ring, said sleeve valve having a plurality of jets arranged to align with the first and second conduits, a disk member having said sleeve valve mounted thereon, and said disk member having a tubular portion on its inner end for supporting said housing, a ball bearing mounted in the tubular portion, a shaft extending through said ball bearing, a yoke secured to said tubular portion, said yoke having an upstanding finger, stops selectively engageable by said finger to control the position of the sleeve valve relative to the conduits, said shaft being splincd and having a turbine rotor mounted thereon, said turbine rotor having a plurality of blades having opposed concaved working faces that are impinged by steam passing through the jets, a side piece secured to said housing, and said side piece having an exhaust manifold therein for directing exhaust steam to exhaust ports, a starter gear on said shaft to permit the turbine to be initially rotated when starting, and a pulley mounted on said shaft.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 and further including a control linkage operatively connected to said yoke. 

1. In a rotary steam turbine engine, a housing having a steam manifold chamber formed therein, nipples communicating with said manifold chamber to supply steam thereto from a source of steam underpressure, a ring mounted in said housing internally of the manifold chamber, said ring functioning to direct steam from the manifold inwardly through a plurality of transversely sloping first conduits, oppositely sloping second conduits intermediate each pair of first conduits, a sleeve valve mounted for rotation within the ring, said sleeve valve having a plurality of jets arranged to align with the first and second conduits, a disk member having said sleeve valve mounted thereon, and said disk member having a tubular portion on its inner end for supporting said housing, a ball bearing mounted in the tubular portion, a shaft extending through said ball bearing, a yoke secured to said tubular portion, said yoke having an upstanding finger, stops selectively engageable by said finger to control the position of the sleeve valve relative to the conduits, said shaft being splined and having a turbine rotor mounted thereon, said turbine rotor having a plurality of blades having opposed concaved working faces that are impinged by steam passing through the jets, a side piece secured to said housing, and said side piece having an exhaust manifold therein for directing exhaust steam to exhaust ports, a starter gear on said shaft to permit the turbine to be initially rotated when starting, and a pulley mounted on said shaft.
 2. A device as claimed in claim 1 and further including a control linkage operatively connected to said yoke. 